Skill: Create Copilot Studio Agents from Scratch

Create agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio using the web app. This skill guides you through the complete agent creation process based on Microsoft Learn documentation.

Quick Reference

Documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/authoring-first-bot

Key Limits:

• Agent name: max 42 characters (no angle brackets < >)
• Description: max 1,024 characters
• Instructions: max 8,000 characters
• Icon: PNG format, <72KB, max 192×192 pixels

Steps to Create an Agent

1. Start at Copilot Studio

1. Sign in to https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com/
2. Switch to the desired environment (if needed)
3. Optionally configure: primary language, solution, schema name

2. Create the Agent (3 Options)

Option A - Natural Language:

• On Home or Agents page, enter a brief description of what you want the agent to do (up to 1,024 chars)
• AI generates name, description, instructions, triggers, channels, knowledge sources, tools

Option B - Create from Scratch:

• Home page: Select Create an agent under "Start building from scratch"
• OR Agents page: Select Create blank agent

Option C - Advanced Create:

• Agents page: Select dropdown next to Create blank agent → Advanced create
• Configure primary language, solution, and schema name before creating

3. Configure Basic Features

After provisioning, configure:

4. Edit Agent Basics

Rename & Edit Description:

1. Go to Overview page → Details section
2. Select Edit → enter name/description → Save

Edit Instructions:

1. Overview page → Instructions section
2. Select Edit → refine instructions → Save

Change Icon:

1. Select agent icon in top bar → Change icon
2. Choose PNG image → Save

Change Language/Solution:

1. Select gear icon in description box
2. Under Agent settings: select primary language
3. Advanced settings: choose solution and schema name
4. Update

⚠️ Note: Cannot change primary language after creation. Can change region or add secondary languages.

5. Test & Publish

1. Test your agent
2. Improve based on testing
3. Publish to channels

Topic Types

Topic Creation (Web App)

1. Go to Topics page → close test panel
2. Add a topic → From blank
3. Add trigger phrases (5-10 recommended)
   • Use Add icon or upload a file
   • Each phrase on separate line
4. Select Details → add name, display name, description
5. Save

Knowledge Sources

Delete an Agent

Web App:

1. Go to Agents page
2. Select agent → … menu → Delete
3. Enter agent name to confirm

Authentication

• Agents automatically use Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) authentication
• Can configure SSO so users don't need manual sign-in
• See: Configure SSO

Event Triggers (Advanced)

Event triggers allow agents to act autonomously in response to external events—without user input.

Requirements

• Agent must have generative orchestration enabled
• Can impact billing (see Copilot Credits billing rates)

How Event Triggers Work

1. Event occurs → External system (SharePoint, Planner, etc.) triggers an event
2. Trigger sends payload → JSON/message containing event info + instructions
3. Agent executes → Agent reads payload and calls appropriate actions/topics

Available Event Triggers

Add an Event Trigger

1. Go to Overview → Triggers section
2. Select Add trigger
3. Choose the desired trigger
4. Authenticate (uses agent maker's credentials)
5. Configure parameters and define trigger payload
6. Define actions/topics for the agent to call in response

Trigger Payload

The payload is a JSON/plain text message sent to the agent containing:

• Event information (data from the source)
• Instructions on how to act

Default payload example: "Use content from Body"

Custom payload example: "Summarize the changes and send to the user"

Agent Instructions vs Payload Instructions

Test a Trigger

1. Run the triggering event (e.g., create a Planner task)
2. On Overview page, select Test trigger icon beside the trigger
3. Choose the instance → Start testing
4. Use Activity Map to see agent's reaction

⚠️ Before publishing: Agent won't react automatically until published.

Modify a Trigger

1. Overview → locate trigger → … → Edit in Power Automate
2. Modify parameters, payload content, variables
3. Save changes in Power Automate

Data Protection & Security

• Event triggers use agent maker's credentials only
• Users may access data using author's authorization
• Review data protection best practices before publishing

Billing Note

Each trigger activation counts as a message toward Copilot Credits. A recurrence trigger running every 10 minutes = ~4,320 messages/month.

Power Automate Integration (Tools)

Agents can call Power Automate cloud flows as tools to perform actions and get data.

Requirements for Agent Flows

Create an Agent Flow

Option 1: From Topic

1. Go to Topics → open your topic
2. Select Add node → Add a tool
3. Basic tools tab → New Agent flow
4. Template opens with required trigger + response action
5. Publish → Go back to agent
6. Action node added to topic → Save

Option 2: From Overview

1. Overview → Tools section → Add tool
2. Select Agent flow → create new or select existing

Configure Flow Inputs

In the When an agent calls the flow trigger, add input parameters:

Configure Flow Outputs

In Respond to the agent action, define output parameters:

Use Flow in Topic

1. In topic authoring canvas, add Tool node
2. Select the flow
3. Map inputs (from user questions or variables)
4. Use outputs in subsequent nodes

Modify Existing Flow for Agent Use

1. Open flow in Power Automate
2. Replace trigger with When an agent calls the flow
3. Add Respond to the agent action
4. Configure inputs/outputs as needed
5. Save and test

Speed Up Flow Execution

• Use Express Mode for faster agent flow execution
• Optimize queries and logic
• Keep typical runs under 100 seconds
• Move long-running actions after Respond to Copilot action

Connection Management

For user credentials: Configure flow's "Run-only permissions" to Provided by run-only user.

⚠️ CMK Environments: Cloud flows can't run with customer credentials. Use specific connections instead.

Publishing with Triggers

Pre-Publish Warning

When publishing an agent with event triggers, you'll see a warning about author credentials. Users may access data using the agent maker's authorization.

After Publishing

• Agent reacts automatically when triggers activate
• Monitor via Activity page
• Each trigger event creates a log entry

Test Mode vs Published

Related Docs

• Quickstart: Create and deploy an agent
• Build initial agent training
• FAQ - Agent creation
• Event triggers overview
• Agent flow express mode

Related Docs

• Quickstart: Create and deploy an agent
• Build initial agent training
• FAQ - Agent creation